We went to explore the UNESCO world Heritage site – the Medina of Marrakech. We began our day by meeting with our local guide Youssef. He was a very enjoyable guide with a great sense of humour and very attentive to us.

The Medina which is located in the center area of Marrakech and is surrounded by around 19 kilometers of walls. The narrow streets and walkways are full of vendors, riads and souks.

It was amazing to walk the narrow streets and think about the long rich history of the Medina which was founded in the 11th century. We walked along the narrow streets and soon found ourselves in different sections of the Medina.

We came to an area that was selling different spices. We could smell spices and there was an array of colours and spices on display. 

There was so many different spices to choose from including Morocco spices like Ras El Hanout used in Tagine meals. 

As we were walking along the narrow streets we could hear scooters and motorbikes behind us and at times we would need to be close to the wall as they drove by. 

There were also feral cats in the Medina and blended in without much problem. 

The streets sizes in the Medina vary from small to almost an impassive alleyways.

We walked along the alleys were you could smell the food and sweets that were being made right there. 

There was even a vender selling pickled lemons, olives and other unique items.

It was easy to get lost walking through the Medina, there were small alleyways and turns which made it feel like a maze. We were fortunate to have a guide and able to find our way without much trouble. Each alleyway had a name and a sign posted above.

There was a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck in Morocco’s High Atlas mountain range at 11:11 p.m. local time on Friday, Sept. 8, 2023. The earthquake cause some major damage inside the Medina in Marrakech. We could see where some of the ancient structures had been reinforced as a result of the earthquake.

We walked around the Medina taking in the sites and sounds. We arrived at Jemaa el Fna which is a huge open square in the center of the Medina. In the square there were snake charmers, monkey handlers, and different types of vendors. 

After walking through the narrow streets and alley ways of the Medina for a few hours we stopped for lunch in the Jemaa el Fna square.

We went to the roof top of a local restaurant and enjoyed some traditional Morocco food while observing the hustle and bustle of the Medina below. 

It was an amazing day walking and exploring the narrow streets and alleys in the Medina. The hustle and bustle made for an adventure beyond the normal shopping experience. Prices of items were negotiated and involved a long drawn out negotiation that  eventually resulted in an agreement on a price. 

Truly an enjoyable day.

“عش كل يوم كما لو كان يومك الأخير، يومًا ما سيكون هذا صحيحًا.”